Andrew Markel, Author at Tomorrows Technician - Page 102 of 105
TPMS Sensor IDs: Why, Where and When

  To understand any TPMS relearn procedure, you have to understand this: Sensors only transmit, they do not receive. The vehicle doesn’t ask a sensor for information on how it’s doing. I know what you’re thinking: a sensor does receive signals when the vehicle is in relearn mode, when the technician is holding a TPMS

Timing Chain Replacement: Diagnosis And Repair

Timing chains, with their thinner width, reduce overall engine length and are more durable than timing belts, requiring no scheduled maintenance. Timing chains do make more noise, have higher weight and higher cost than timing belts, though.

Air Ride Diagnostics: Reservoirs And Compressors

Just about every Asian and European luxury import nameplate manufacturer has a 7- to 10-year-old vehicle on the road with an air-ride suspension at all four corners. Chances are you will be servicing one of these vehicles sooner rather than later.

Converter Codes: How Long Will The Light Stay Out?

Even if the converter is operating below 95% efficiency or the oxygen sensor is bad, the chances of the light coming right back on are slim. If you clear the code, the light might stay off for a while until the system goes through two readiness cycles. This might take a couple of days or a couple of weeks. But, no good deed goes unpunished because the customer will be back and your quick fix will be forgotten.

Replacing Fuel Lines

As vehicles are lasting longer, the chances the fuel lines will spring a leak are increasing. The main reason metal fuel lines fail is corrosion, but most corrosion starts when abrasive materials start to remove the paint or coating on the line. This can occur at a mounting bracket or from ­debris kicked up from the tire.

False ABS, ESC Activation Causes And Cures

The first mass-produced anti-lock braking systems (ABS) were introduced in 1985. By 2008, almost every passenger vehicle came standard with ABS. Next, electronic stability control (ESC) became a mandated safety feature for the 2012 model year. Along with all these advancements have come false activation complaints.

Nissan Versa Alignment Specs

The Nissan Versa is the entry-level vehicle that took over from the Sentra, which is now classified as a mid-sized vehicle. The Versa shouldn’t be a problem to align, but you need to be aware of a few quirks.

Live-Axle Wheel Bearing Replacement

Replacing wheel bearings on a vehicle with a live rear axle may not be one of the most frequent jobs, but it can be one of the most profitable. While the basics have not changed in more than 60 years, new seal materials and differential designs have added new wrinkles.

Brake Rotor Failure: Why Rotors Crack And Make Noise

The prices of rotors seem to be dropping the past few years. Call just about any parts supplier and they can quote you a vast range of prices for the same application. And when you compare the rotors side-by-side, they may look the same, but the difference between a comeback and a satisfied customer is often at the microscopic level.

Your Guide To The Kia Brake Job

If a Kia comes in with a grinding problem, the next step is to look for uneven wear. If one wheel is showing more wear than the other on that axle, it’s time to do some investigating. The most likely cause of unexpected wear is a caliper or hardware issue, and the key to a successful job is figuring out the true culprit.

What You Need To Know About TPMS

What signals from inside the shop can interfere with TPMS signals? What can be reused from a TPMS sensor? Are TPMS sensors able to report on the status of their battery life? Will a tire pressure sensor fit in every wheel? Keep reading to find the answers to these and other TPMS-related questions.

Change Your Mind When It Comes To Rotor, Pulsation Comebacks

How do you handle a pulsation or comeback? Blame the pads? The driver? Defective rotor?